Synopses & Reviews
Despite its written literature, ancient Greece was in many ways an oral society.This is the first major attempt to study the implications of this view.
Synopsis
Concentrating on the plentiful evidence from Classical Athens, Dr Thomas shows how the use of writing developed only gradually and under the influence of the previous oral method of communication - an insight of considerable significance for the interpretation of ancient literacy.
Table of Contents
Introduction; 1. Literacy, written record and oral communication; 2. Family tradition; 3. Genealogy and family tradition: the intrusion of writing; 4. Official tradition? Polis tradition and the epitaphios; 5. The liberation of Athens and the âAlcmaeonid traditionâ; Epilogue; Appendix: early Greek lists; Chronological table; Bibliography; Index.